Door for floor furnaces and like heating appliances



A. D. OLDS Feb. 15, 19.44.

DOOR FOR FLOOR FURNACES AND LIKE HEATiNG APPLIANCES w h l 5 H m I M ?Z M z o m 4 m m Q6 W M (6 2 z 5 a z 6 T I T w 4 4 1 .3 4 w a 5 a y a -l. M 4 z .w 62 9 w m a a 4 4 2 5m O I U 0 (4 Hll\| M i I m 0 A. D. OLDS 2,341,806 DOOR FOR FLOOR FURNACES AND LIKE HEATING APPLIANCES Feb. 15, 1944.

Filgd May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1944 --DOR FOR FLOOR FURNACES AND LIKE HEATING APPLIANCES Ambrose D. O lds, Wichita, Kaila, assignor to The ColinanLain'p and Stove'Company, 'Wic'hita, Kans.,facorporation of Kansas Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,976

'13 Claims.

This invention relates to adoorfor the combustion chamber of afioorfurnace or like heatmg appliance which must be lighted from above the floor in which it is suspended.

In heating appliances of this character, it is difiicult to provide a satisfactory door through which the burner of the appliance-may be lighted in that the door must close gas-tight with little effort on the part of the operator, otherwise the door may fail to seat properly and, in fact, the operator may leave the door open so that fumes escape directly into the room.

It is, therefore,-a principal'object of thepresent invention to provide a door that is attached to the combustion chamber and constructed to .prevent replacement of the floor grill when the door is left open.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple and inexpensive door construction; to

provide a door which seatsgas-tight responsive to gravity; to provide a door that has freedom of operation so that it is capable of being selfseated; to provide guide means for facilitating self-centering of the door on its seat; and to provide the door with a sight opening covered, by a transparent disk.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is ,a perspective. view of a portion of the'top of a combustion chamber equipped with a door embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the top of the combustion chamber and door show ing the door in closed position.

I Fig 3 is a sectionthrough the upper portion of a floor furnace which includes the combustion chamber and showing the door in open position with the door projecting through thefloor opening for preventing replacement of the grill without first closing the door.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4- of Fig.2. v

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. .6 is a plan view of the door hinge.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the door and 7 in disassembled "a room to be heated. In the illustrated instance the furnace includes an outer-casing *5support- 7 ing the combustion chamber 6 and an .inner 1 the flange ll casing l. The combustion chamber 6 is provided in the bottom thereof (not shown) with a burner (also not shown), and which is adapted to be lighted through an opening 8 formed in the top of the combustion chamber. In the illustrated instance the combustion chamber includes mating sheet metal sections 9 and It, each having an outwardly extending flange II and a substantially semicircular section of a collar I2 at the top thereof of greater depth than so that when the sections are placed in juxtaposition and the flanges H welded together the collar forms a circular opening 13 in the top of the combustion chamber through which access may be had to the burner when the floor grill 4 is removed. The upper edge M of the collar constitutes a continuous circular seat 15 for a door l6 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The door it includes a relatively heavy metal body I! of larger diameter than the seat !5 to accommodate the edge l4 within an annular groove l8 of the door. The groove l8 has upwardly converging sides 19 and 2!) of a circumference to provide considerable space 2| and 22 on the respective sides of the collar edge M, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Fixed within the groove is a gasket material 23 having a substantially fiat face portion 24 engaging the seat i5 when the door is closed. Extending through the door is a sight opening 25 having a shouldered upper portion 26 forming a seat for a transparent disk 2"! to close the opening 25. From the shoulder 26 the face of the opening 25 bevels downwardly substantially at the same angle as the side it to form an annular rib 28 projecting into the door opening. The disk 2i is imbedded in gasket material 29 and is retained in position by a plate 3%) bearing against a portion of the gasket material seating on a rim 3i on'the upper face of the disk, as shown in Fig. 2. The plate 30 has an opening 32 substantially conforming in diameter to the opening 25 and is provided with laterally extending ears 33 adapted to seat upon shoulders 3 1 projecting from the sides of the cover, the plate being re tained by fastening devices, such as screws 35, extending through openings 36 in the ears of the plate and into threaded sockets 3'! in the cover as shown in Fig. 4. The outer portion of the cover curves outwardly and downwardly, as at 38, to cooperate with the side 20 of the groove in forming an annular flange or cave 3%.

In order to secure the door to the combustion chamber to prevent removal thereof, I provide shaped-bracket 4| having its leg portions and operation.

43 engaging over the flanges H and fixed thereto by spot welding or the like to form the flxed member 01 the hinge. The movable member of the hinge, or that connected With the door, includes an arm 44 preferably formed or a sheet metal stamping and having a channel-like portion 45, the side flanges M2 and n of which are adapted to extend over the sides of the flanges if when the cover is in seated position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and b. The rear ends of the side flanges terminate in ears n; and 453 offset from the plane of the flanges as indicated at 58) so that the ears extend freely over the side flanges of the bracket n and to provide space therebetween as indicated at ill so that tne hinge is adapted ior free The ears 48 and iii are provided with elongated openings 52 extending transversely thereof and registering with an opening 53 extending through the bracket and the flanges H for passing a pivot member such as a cotter pin 1 The cotter pin is thus substantially close fltting in the opening but the slotted openings provide freedom of movement of the hinge arm thereon. The top or web portion 5b 01' the arm extends above the ears it and 39 to form a shoulder 56 which is adapted to seat upon the bracket H when the cover is moved to open position as shown in Fig. 3. The side flanges at the opposite end or the arm have upwardly curved edges 51 terminating in a flat plate-like portion 58 of substantially triangular shape to provide apertured Wings 59 and 6d wherethrough fastening devices, such as screws 6!, are threaded into downwardly opening sockets 62 formed in lateral boss-like extensions 63 of the cover to secure the cover to the arm.

When the cover is raised to open position, the center of gravity thereof passes over the axis of the hinge connection 40 so that the weight of the cover retains the stop shoulder 5b in contact with the bracket ll to retain the cover in open position with a portion thereof extending above the outer casing 5, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it is impossible to apply the grill t as long as the cover is open. To facilitate opening of the cover, it is provided with a substantially loop-shaped handle 6 3 having its ends anchored in bosses 65 of the cover. When the cover is in closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may seek its position on the seat it due to the fact that the slotted openings 52 of the hinge provide movement of the arm id in an up and down direction, however, the sides of the slotted openings more closely engage the cotter pin and retain the sides l9 and 20 of the cover groove in properly spaced relation with the seat I5 of the flange l2 and with the cover in substantially coaxial relation with the opening 8. In closed position, the side flanges 36 and l! of the arm closely engage the flanges H of the combustion chamber to prevent lateral movement of the cover on the seat 55 which would ordinarily be possible due to the slight spacing between the sides of the slot-like openings 52 and the cotter pin 5d.

The cover may be readily lifted to open position, shown in Fig. 3, so that the stop shoulder 56 on the arm engages the top of the bracket 4! and the cover is thus retained in an out-of-way position during lighting of the burner through the opening 8. After lighting the burner, the cover is moved so that the center of gravity passes over the opposite side of the hinge connection, whereupon the cover drops into seating position over the opening. During this movement the side 19 and 20 guide the cover into seated position and the flanges 46 and 41 pass over the flanges II to retain the coaxial relation of the cover with the opening so that the cover automatically cen'tersitself, and the seat in the body thereof provides a positive seal to prevent fumes from escaping into the room. The grill may then be put into place over the floor opening, completing the operation. If the door has not been properly closed, but left open as shown in Fig. 3, it will be impossible to replace the grill, thereby assuring that the door is first closed before the grill is applied.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening, a door for said opening including, an annular seat member surrounding the opening, a bracket member on the combustion chamber and spaced from the seat member, a closure member engageable with said seat member, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member and having spaced ears provided with elongated openings, pivot means extending loosely through said elongated openings and through the bracket to hinge the arm to the bracket, and means associatedwith said bracket and engageable between flanges of the channel-like arm to retain the closure member from lateral movement on the seat member.

2. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening, a door for said opening including, aseat member, a closure member including a weighted body having an annular V-shaped groove to freely accommodate the seat member therein, a gasket material in said groove engageable with the seat member, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member, a bracket, a lost motion pivotal connection between the bracket and the channel-like arm, and means engageable between flanges of the channel-like arm to cooperate with the V-shaped groove of the closure member for centering the closure member on the seat member.

3. In a heating device, a combustion chamber having a door opening in the top thereof and provided with a seat encircling said opening, a closure member for said opening engaging said seat, a bracket fixed to the combustion chamber, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member and having spaced ears loosely engaging the respective sides of said bracket, a pivot member extending loosely through said ears and the bracket to hinge the arm thereto, and a guide associated with the bracket and engageable between flanges of the channel-like arm. I

4. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening, a door for said opening including, a seat member surrounding the opening, a bracket member spaced from the seat member, a closure member engageable with the seat member, an arm fixed to the closure member, a hinge connection connectingthearm with the bracket, said hinge connection having a relatively loose pivot to effect self-seating of the closure member on the seat member, and guide means associated with the bracket member and engageable with the arm as the closure member approaches the seat member.

5. In a heating device, a combustion chamber having a door opening in the top thereof and provided with a seat encircling said opening, a flange member on the combustion chamber and in a plane extending substantially through the axis of said opening, a closure member for said opening engaging said seat, a bracket fixed to the flange, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member and having spaced ears loosely engaging the respective sides of said bracket, and means loosely hinging said ears to the bracket, the channel portion of said arm being engageable with said flange member to retain the closure member coaxial with said opening as the closure member approaches the seat upon closure thereof.

6. In combination with a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening, a door for said opening including, an annular seat member surrounding the opening, a bracket member spaced from the seat member, a closure member engageable with said seat member, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member and having spaced ears provided with elongated openings, a pivot member extending loosely through said elongated openings and through the bracket to hinge the arm to the bracket, and means associated with said bracket and engageable between flanges of the channellike arm to retain the closure member from lateral movement on the seat member when the door is closed, said arm having a stop shoulder engageable with said bracket member to supportsaid arm in substantially vertical position with the center of gravity of the closure member on the side of the pivot member opposite the seat member to retain the closure member in open position.

7. In combination with a floor furnace having a combustion chamber provided with an opening in the top thereof and a removable grill extending over the combustion chamber, a closure for said opening, a relatively long arm connected with the closure, and means pivotally attaching the arm to the combustion chamber for pivotal movement from closing relation with said opening to a position extending into the position normally occupied by said grill to prevent application of the grill when the closure is open, one of said connections having limited free movement in all directions to facilitate seating of the clo-'; sure member.

8. In combination with a floor furnace hav-- ing a combustion chamber provided with an opening in the top thereof and a grill extending over said combustion chamber but adapted tobe removed for access to said opening, a closure member for said opening and having sufiicient weight to effect a seal about said opening, an arm fixed to the closure member, a lost motion connecting means pivotally connecting the arm with the combustion chamber for movement of the closure member from a position closing said opening to a position where a portion thereof projects into the space normally occupied by the grill to prevent application of the grill, and a guide on said combustion chamber engageable with said arm when the opening. is closed by said closure member.

9. In combination with a floor furnace having a. combustion chamber provided with an opening in the top thereof and a grill extending over said combustion chamber-but adapted to be removed for access to said opening, a closure member for said opening and having suflicient weight to efiect a seal about said opening, a channel-like arm fixed to the closure member and having a relatively loose pivotal connection with the combustion chamber for movement of the closure member from a position closing said opening to a position where a portion thereof projects into a space normally occupied by the grill to prevent application of the grill, and a flange on the combustion chamber engageable between flanges of said channel-like arm when the opening is closed by the closure member.

10. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening, a seat member surrounding the opening, a bracket member spaced a substantial distance from the seat member, a closure member having an annular groove, a gasket in said groove engageable with the seat member, a relatively long arm fixed to the closure member, a hinge connection connecting the arm with the bracket member, said hinge connection being loose in all directions, and guide means between the bracket member and seat member for guiding the closure member as it approaches the seat member when the closure member is moved to position for closing said opening.

11. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening in the top thereof, a door for said opening including a seat member surrounding the opening and having a seat located in a substantially hori zontal plane, a bracket member spaced a material distance from the seat member, a closure member engageable with the seat, an arm of substantial length fixed to the closure memher, a hinge connection connecting the arm with the bracket, said hinge connection having a pivot relatively loose in all directions to permit seating of the closure member when the closure member is dropped from open to closed position, and guide means for centering the closure on said seat.

12. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening in the top thereof, a door for closing the door opening, including a closure member comprising a weighted body, means for hinging the closure member on the combustion chamber at a point spaced from the door opening, said means having a limited lost motion connection in all directions and arranged to support said closure member in open position, and guide means on the combustion chamber adapted to guide the closure member into substantially centering position relatively to the door opening when the door is moved from said open to closed position.

13. In a heating device having a combustion chamber provided with a door opening in the top thereof, a seat member surrounding the opening, a bracket on the combustion chamber and spaced a material distance from the seat member, a closure member, an arm, means hingedly connecting the arm with the bracket and arranged to support said arm when the arm is moved past vertical position, means connecting the closure member with said arm, at least one of said connections having limited freedom of movement in all directions, and means on the combustion chamber adapted to co-operate with the arm for guiding the closure member on to the seat member when the arm is returned past vertical position toward the seat member.

AMBROSE D. OLDS. 

